A trauma to the face due to a sports injury or an accident etc. may cause a tooth to get broken, loosened or completely dislodged from its socket. This is known as a dental avulsion and is a common cause for seeking emergency dental support at The Dental Hub. If a dislodged tooth cannot be reattached and needs to be extracted, then the missing tooth can be replaced by various dental replacement options such as dental bridge, crowns or dental implants. Our dentists at The Dental Hub will be happy to discuss options with the patient that would help preserve their intact smile.
It is imperative to get the dentists attention immediately if a tooth gets dislodged because this can be helpful in maintaining the shape and size of the original tooth and in some cases the dislodged tooth may be cemented back in place. Dental consultation as soon as possible also reduces the chances of infection, dental decay and gum disease.
Here are the steps that we request our clients to follow in such a situation:
- Retrieve and keep the dislodged tooth safe
- When handling the tooth hold it by the crown only
- If the tooth is dirty, clean it by holding it under running water but not more than 10 seconds
- Do not store the avulsed tooth in water. Best is to hold it in place in the socket inside the mouth.
- In case of a dislodged tooth gently but firmly push it back into place
- Act quickly to get a dental emergency appointment and come over to the clinic
At the clinic, the dentist will check to see that the dislodged tooth has been put in correct position. Any gum lacerations are treated and the affected area is washed with water or saline solution. The correct positioning of the tooth is of utmost importance and this is determined not just by physical examinations but also radiographically. In most cases of avulsion, a dental splint may be required to keep the dislodged tooth in place. In some cases, a week after the replanting, a root canal treatment may be necessary to repair the damage to the dental root.